PICK OF THE WEEK

SATURDAY

Bettany Hughes’ Treasures of the World (C4, 7pm)

The latest leg of the presenter’s adventure takes her to Azerbaijan, beginning in the mountain village of Khinalig, the highest settlement in Europe. It’s developed a distinctive culture and language all of its own, seemingly due to its isolated location, but a local archaeologist has uncovered fresh evidence of Roman occupation over 2,000 years ago. Bettany also learns about the literary heritage of the 12th-century writer Nizami Ganjavi, dubbed the Shakespeare of the East, and his influence on Eric Clapton’s Layla.

Britain’s Got Talent (STV, 7.30pm)

Before this series began, it was announced that more ‘golden buzzers’ were awarded during the audition stages than in any previous run. Is that because the standard is higher, or just because Bruno Tonioli, Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon have realised there’s no real reason they need to ration themselves to just one? Viewers can decide for themselves tonight, as more hopefuls take to the stage in the hopes of showing that they deserve a shot at the £250,000 prize and a spot on the bill of the Royal Variety Performance.

Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker (C4, 8pm)

To be the new tenants of the National Trust’s vacant Wallington Estate, the successful applicant will need to fit into the local rural community. Tonight, the remaining five wannabe-tenants are put the test at Hexham’s livestock auction mart, where they have to purchase cattle for a buyer who can’t be there. The National Trust also wants the successful tenant to engage with their ambitious conservation plans. So, back on the farm, the applicants work with Wallington’s team of rangers, creating new wildlife habitats by planting trees and restoring areas of wetland.

Spy/Master (BBC4, 9pm)

Continuing BBC4’s tradition of bringing us the best in international dramas, this gripping new spy thriller comes from Romania. Set during the Cold War, it stars Alec Secareanu as Victor Godeanu, the (fictional) right-hand man to Romanian President Nicolae Ceau?escu. However, Victor has also been working as a secret agent for the Soviets and he fears his double life is about to be exposed. It seems his only hope is to use a diplomatic trip to Germany as a springboard to defect to the United States, but that means evading his own country’s spies as well as the KGB, all while leaving his wife and child to deal with the fallout back home. In the first episode in the opening double bill, Victor has to handle Ceau?escu’s growing paranoia and rumblings that he is about to exposed.

Traces (BBC1, 9.20pm)

The drama series comes to a gripping conclusion as Sarah (Laura Fraser) works with McKinven (Michael Mardone) to prevent another explosion. However, they also have some big decision to make about their futures. They’re not the only ones at a crossroads as Kathy (Jennifer Spence) realises it’s time to make some big changes, both personally and professionally. But will any of those choices pave the way for a third series? There’s been no confirmation of one as of yet, but fans will hope that a couple of loose ends will be left dangling, just in case.

Jackie O: Style & Scandal (C5, 10pm)

She remains arguably the most famous First Lady in US history, celebrated as a style icon even as her life was tainted by tragedy. Now, 30 years on from her death, this documentary shows how behind the famous outfits and hairstyles, Jacqueline Kennedy had a powerful determination to survive. As an ambitious young woman, she vowed never to become a housewife, but social conventions and financial insecurity led her to marry aspiring young senator John F Kennedy. Although their wedding doubled as a photo opportunity, his advisors worried that his sophisticated, stylish wife might not be relatable to the majority of voters, but instead her popularity rivalled his – and she was also able to keep her cool in the spotlight amid his countless infidelities. However, it would be JFK’s assassination in 1963 that would seal her in the public eye as a symbol of strength.

SUNDAY

Mammals (BBC1, 7pm)

The final episode focuses on forests, revealing why they have proven to be such challenging environments for mammals to negotiate. Among the creatures featured are the tiger, who must use their intelligence to survive the heat of an Indian summer. Meanwhile, in Madagascar, we see how the tiny tenrec uses a patch of stiff bristles on its back to communicate with its family. Other animals to look out for include bobcats in North America, Costa Rica’s howler monkeys, and our closest relative, the chimpanzee, in Africa.

Our Welsh Chapel Dream (C4, 8pm)

Keith Brymer Jones sprang to fame as the ‘crying judge’ in C4’s Great Pottery Throw Down. The acclaimed ceramicist has since appeared on various other shows, published an autobiography and embarked on stage tours, during which he’s discussed his life and demonstrated his art. Now he and his wife, actress Marj Hogarth, look set to become the new Dick and Angel Strawbridge – like them, Jones and Hogarth are taking on an ambitious

renovation project that will be filmed by

C4. Theirs, however, is a 160-year-old derelict chapel on Wales’s Llyn Peninsula rather than a French chateau. They want to turn it into their home, with a working pottery the community can also use – providing they can move some pigeons out first.

I Kissed a Girl (BBC3, 9pm)

Dannii Minogue is back with a new series that follows the same format as 2023’s I Kissed A Boy. This time, a group of 10 single ladies are heading into the

Masseria. Will their first kiss lead to romance, or will they choose to explore other options during the ultimate summer of love? Tonight, Dannii welcomes the girls to Italy, and as the newly-matched couples meet for the first time, they are encouraged to give their new relationships a good shot. During the first night celebrations, hearts race for two girls and they take no time in exploring the chemistry outside of their

match. Continues tomorrow.

Passover UK: A Jewish Journey (STV, 10.20pm)

The eight-day Jewish festival of Passover, which marks the biblical Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, ended last week. It’s traditionally marked by families coming together for commemoration, conviviality and cooking – but what does it mean for members of Britain’s Jewish community? Journalist Sam Holder aims to find out by travelling across the nation, meeting members and joining in their preparations for ceremonial seder meals, during which they open up about their faith and how it fits in with their everyday lives.

MONDAY

Marcus Wareing Simply Provence (BBC2, 6.30pm)

How does UK cuisine stack up against that of our closest neighbours? Being a lover of both British and French dishes, Marcus

Wareing is on a mission to show viewers the joys of simple seasonal food across the Channel, as well as adding a British twist to some of their treasured traditional dishes. Over the next three weeks, the MasterChef: The Professionals judge is heading to a region famous for its delectable yet straightforward fare – Provence. He begins with a simple ingredient at the heart of most their food – the humble tomato. He visits a local market and an organic farm for inspiration, and prepares a traditional Provençal tomato sauce and soupe au pistou blanched in a pesto-style sauce. He also speaks to local dinner lady Maude about using tomatoes in a showstopping tart.

Spacey Unmasked (C4, 9pm)

In July last year, Kevin Spacey was dramatically cleared of sexually assaulting four men by a jury at London’s Southwark Crown Court. The Usual Suspects and American Beauty actor was accused of abusing his fame and power to carry out nine sex attacks on the men during his tenure as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre. However, he insisted the claims were “madness” and accused the claimants of “lying for money”. This twopart programme, concluding tomorrow, takes a forensic look at Spacey’s life, from his childhood, success on Broadway and his meteoric rise to stardom in Hollywood, through to his spectacular fall from grace and recent comeback attempts. Specifically, the series looks at how Spacey’s conduct affected others and follows the outcomes of the civil case heard in New York in 2022, brought by Actor Anthony Rapp, and the criminal case in the UK.

Blue Lights (BBC1, 9pm)

Tommy is concerned when his partner Shane pushes the boundaries while questioning a suspect. With DS Murray Canning’s malign influence continuing to grow at Blackthorn Station, Lee Thompson is trying to get his £30,000 back, claiming it was raised by people in the area for a local community centre. Out on the street, Grace and Annie are cruising the neighbourhood when a picture pops up on Annie’s phone of her and Shane in bed. They’re then called to a domestic disturbance, where a man is burning his partner’s clothes, claiming she’s left him. But is there more to the case than meets the eye?

Beat the Chasers – Celebrity Special (STV, 9pm)

Quiz geniuses Mark Labbett, Anne Hegerty, Shaun Wallace, Paul Sinha, Jenny Ryan and Darragh Ennis return to face more famous faces in the spin-off series. But will any of the celebrities have the courage to take on all six of the Chasers tonight? Those hoping to win big money for their chosen charities are Irish comedian Neil Delamere, TV presenters and journalists Michelle Ackerley and Rick Edwards, BBC Breakfast host Charlie

Stayt and Bargain Hunt expert Danny

Sebastian. Bradley Walsh asks the questions. Continues Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Shield (Dave, 11pm)

First shown on C5 in 2004, here is another chance to see the pilot episode of Shawn Ryan’s acclaimed US police drama, chronicling the turbulent day-to-day life of the Strike Team, a group of corrupt Los Angeles detectives. Put-upon captain David Aceveda (Benito Martinez) learns a crack-addict father has sold his daughter for $200 to a paedophile to fund his selfdestructive habit, and counts on team leader Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis) to find her before it’s too late. However, Aceveda has an ulterior motive, and recruits Terry Crowley (Reed Diamond) to help him take Vic down.

Dua Lipa Live Lounge Special (BBC1, 12am)

While her headline set on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in the summer promises to be the most epic performance of her career so far, Dua Lipa can be seen in a more intimate setting here, as she returns to perform in the BBC Live Lounge. Clara Amfo interviews the three-time Grammy and seven-time Brit Award-winning artist as she perform three tracks from her third studio album Radical Optimism which was released on Friday. There is also a cover of Sunshine by British singer-songwriter Cleo Sol.

TUESDAY

For the Love of Dogs with Alison Hammond (STV, 8pm)

Finding a forever home for one dog can be tough, but finding an owner who can take on two is even trickier. So, perhaps it’s not surprising that two of the longest-standing residents at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home are a couple of inseparable golden labradors, who definitely come as a pair. Will anyone open their home and heart to both of them? Presenter Alison also meet a three-month-old whippet who is having swimming lessons and befriends a shy Maltese with trust issues. If anyone can bring the pooch out of its shell, it’s Alison.

Aldi’s Next Big Thing (C4, 8pm)

An eclectic group pitch to Managing Director of Buying Julie Ashfield in the Healthy and Wholesome category. There’s a protein ball with the divisive name of Dung; a healthy spin on ginger beer that promises to pack a fiery punch; and a mushroom obsessive who’s left the city behind to set up a farm in the Welsh mountains. Plus, a young entrepreneur introduces her innovative low-sugar spread of granola butter. With just two chosen to develop their products further, this week’s decision comes right down to the wire.

Changing Ends (STV, 8.30pm)

The entertaining sitcom inspired by comedian Alan Carr’s early life continues, as his football manager dad (Shaun